The day after he verbally committed to Connecticut, Maurice Harkless led Forest Hills past Thomas Edison, 76-69, in Queens AA action Thursday night.

The junior forward scored 21 points – 19 in the second half – added 11 rebounds and six blocks. Forward Jose Torres had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Denzel Dulin chipped in 12 for the Rangers (3-1, 3-0 Queens AA) who remained atop the division in handing the Inventors (5-2, 3-1 Queens AA) their first league loss.

“He played the second half like he was a high-major Division I player,” Forest Hills coach Ben Chobhaphand said of Harkless. “It was a collective team effort, but he took the lead.”